Herbs, perennial, (0.7–)1.2–3.5(–4.4) dm; from a woody caudex; with a stout taproot. Stems several to many, ascending to erect, sometimes short-decumbent, branched or unbranched, sometimes with short, leafy axillary shoots, hairs moderately dense, retrorse or curved to spreading, straight, curly, or ± wavy, medium length to long, soft to stiff, eglandular. Leaves green to purple, linear to lanceolate, 1–5.5(–8) cm, not fleshy, margins plane to ± wavy, involute, 0–5(–7)-lobed, apex acuminate to obtuse; lobes widely spreading to ascending-spreading, linear to filiform, apex acute or obtuse. Inflorescences (2–)3.5–16 × 1–3.5 cm; bracts light green, green, yellow-green, light purple, purple, light dusky pink, salmon, or reddish brown throughout, or these colors proximally, distally or on distal margins white, pale yellow, yellow, pale salmon, or buff, sometimes becoming reddish purple with age, lanceolate to broadly lanceolate or narrowly ovate, 3–5(–9)-lobed, often wavy-margined; lobes spreading to erect or ascending, linear to oblanceolate, short to long, arising near or above mid length, sometimes wavy-margined, central lobe apex obtuse to rounded or truncate, sometimes acute, lateral ones acute to obtuse. Calyces proximally whitish to pale green, distally green, whitish, pink, or yellowish, 9–28 mm; all 4 clefts subequal, 2–12 mm, 45–55% of calyx length; lobes linear to narrowly lanceolate or narrowly triangular, rarely deltoid, apex acute, rarely rounded. Corollas straight, 14–23 mm; tube 10–15; abaxial lip sometimes partially exserted, beak exserted; beak adaxially green or yellow-green, 3–7 mm; abaxial lip proximally green, pale yellow, pale or bright pink, or deep purple, distally white to pink or purplish, inflated, pouches 3, deeply furrowed, 2.5–8 mm, 50–100% as long as beak; teeth erect, green, white, buff, pink, or pale yellow, 1–2 mm. 2n = 24, 48, 96.

Distribution

w United States.

Discussion

Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).

Castilleja pilosa is a widespread and variable complex similar in growth form and coloration to C. pallescens and related species. However, C. pilosa is distinguished with relative ease by its subequally divided calyces. Plants of the C. pallescens complex have very shallow lateral calyx lobes.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Castilleja pilosa var. longispica, Castilleja pilosa var. pilosa, Castilleja pilosa var. steenensis

Key

1	Calyces 9–15(–20) mm; c, se Idaho, nw Wyoming, adjacent Montana.	Castilleja pilosa var. longispica
1	Calyces (11–)14–28 mm; ne California, nw Nevada, e Oregon.	> 2
2	Stem hairs spreading, ± wavy or curly, soft, (0.4–)0.8–1.3(–1.5) mm; sagebrush steppes, rocky slopes, ridges, seasonally moist meadows or pools, conifer forests, montane to subalpine; 500–2000(–3500) m; ne California, nw Nevada, e Oregon.	Castilleja pilosa var. pilosa
2	Stem hairs retrorse or spreading, ± curved, stiff, 0.5–0.8(–1) mm; rocky slopes, ledges, dry meadows, sagebrush steppes, subalpine to alpine, volcanic soils; (1900–)2000–2900 m; Steens Mountain, se Oregon.	Castilleja pilosa var. steenensis